ATSAME51J20A-AUT - 120MHz Cortex-M4F MCU 1MB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAME51J20A-AUT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.85 | $9.85 |
| 10 | $9.2 | $92.00 |
| 100 | $8.4 | $840.00 |
| 500 | $7.65 | $3,825.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.1 | $7,100.00 |
ATSAME51J20A-AUT Overview
An ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller is a 32-bit MCU core that integrates a single-precision Floating Point Unit (FPU), DSP extensions, and a Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC) on a Harvard bus architecture. Within the SAM E51 product hierarchy, this device sits above Cortex-M0+ parts and below Cortex-M7 SAM S70/E70 parts, occupying the high-performance mid-range tier of Microchip's MCU portfolio. It belongs to the broader power management and embedded control IC category, and is frequently paired with buck converters, LDOs, and external QSPI memory in industrial system designs.
Key features of the ATSAME51J20A-AUT include the 120 MHz Cortex-M4F core with FPU and DSP instructions, 1 MB of Dual Panel Flash allowing simultaneous read-while-write, 256 KB SRAM, full-speed USB 2.0 with integrated PHY, CAN-FD, SERCOM interfaces, a 12-bit ADC, DAC, and AES crypto accelerator. The device integrates a high-speed 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F core with DSP extensions that allow complex signal processing without offloading to a DSP coprocessor.
Architecture-wise, the SAM E51 uses a multilayer AHB bus matrix connecting the Cortex-M4F core to high-bandwidth peripherals and SRAM, while peripheral bridges route slower peripherals to the APB bus. The integrated FPU accelerates floating-point math for control loops, and the 1 MB Dual Panel Flash provides deterministic read-while-write operation for field firmware upgrades without halting execution.
Typical applications for the ATSAME51J20A-AUT include industrial automation controllers, building automation gateways, USB peripherals and HID devices, automotive body ECUs (non-safety), and IoT edge nodes. The combination of USB, CAN-FD, and high-speed ADC makes it well suited to factory sensor hubs and motor-control front ends.
When designing with this part, ensure that the 64-pin TQFP land pattern matches the standard 10x10 mm TQFP footprint so that drop-in alternatives can be substituted without PCB rework. The internal 1.2V LDO requires a 1 uF decoupling capacitor on the core supply pin to maintain stability under dynamic load.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in SAM E51 alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAME51J20A-AUT — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ATSAME51J20A-AUT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in SRAM, ADC, Flash Memory, Package, USB.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAME51J19A-AUT-EFP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAME51J18A-AUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD51J20A-AUT-EFP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD51J19A-AUT-EFP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD51P20A-AUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAME51J20A-AUT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU and DSP |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 120 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1 MB (Dual Panel, with ECC) |
| SRAM | 256 KB |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed with integrated PHY |
| CAN | CAN-FD |
| Crypto Accelerator | AES |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAME51J20A-AUT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — GPIO / TCC0 channel 0 / SERCOM1 pad 0 |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — GPIO / TCC0 channel 1 / SERCOM1 pad 1 |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — GPIO / analog input / SERCOM0 pad 0 |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — GPIO / analog input / SERCOM0 pad 1 |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 7 | PA04 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 0 / TC0 channel 0 |
| Pin 8 | PA05 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 1 / TC0 channel 1 |
| Pin 9 | PA06 — GPIO / SERCOM0 pad 2 / TC1 channel 0 |
| Pin 10 | PA07 — GPIO / SERCOM0 pad 3 / TC1 channel 1 |
| Pin 11 | PA08 — GPIO / SERCOM2 pad 0 / TC2 channel 0 |
| Pin 12 | PA09 — GPIO / SERCOM2 pad 1 / TC2 channel 1 |
| Pin 13 | PA10 — GPIO / SERCOM2 pad 2 / TCC1 channel 0 |
| Pin 14 | PA11 — GPIO / SERCOM2 pad 3 / TCC1 channel 1 |
| Pin 15 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 17 | PB00 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 0 / TC3 channel 0 |
| Pin 18 | PB01 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 1 / TC3 channel 1 |
| Pin 19 | PB02 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 2 / TC4 channel 0 |
| Pin 20 | PB03 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 3 / TC4 channel 1 |
| Pin 21 | PB04 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 0 / TC5 channel 0 |
| Pin 22 | PB05 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 1 / TC5 channel 1 |
| Pin 23 | PB06 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 0 / TC6 channel 0 |
| Pin 24 | PB07 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 1 / TC6 channel 1 |
| Pin 25 | PB08 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 2 / TC7 channel 0 |
| Pin 26 | PB09 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 3 / TC7 channel 1 |
| Pin 27 | PA12 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 0 / TCC2 channel 0 |
| Pin 28 | PA13 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 1 / TCC2 channel 1 |
| Pin 29 | PA14 — GPIO / SERCOM2 pad 2 / TCC3 channel 0 |
| Pin 30 | PA15 — GPIO / SERCOM2 pad 3 / TCC3 channel 1 |
| Pin 31 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 0 / TCC1 channel 0 |
| Pin 32 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 1 / TCC1 channel 1 |
| Pin 33 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 2 / TC3 channel 0 |
| Pin 34 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 3 / TC3 channel 1 |
| Pin 35 | PA20 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 2 / TC7 channel 0 |
| Pin 36 | PA21 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 3 / TC7 channel 1 |
| Pin 37 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 0 / TCC0 channel 0 |
| Pin 38 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 1 / TCC0 channel 1 |
| Pin 39 | PA24 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 2 / TCC1 channel 0 / USB D- |
| Pin 40 | PA25 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 3 / TCC1 channel 1 / USB D+ |
| Pin 41 | PB10 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 2 / TC5 channel 0 |
| Pin 42 | PB11 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 3 / TC5 channel 1 |
| Pin 43 | PB12 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 0 / TC4 channel 0 / CAN RX |
| Pin 44 | PB13 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 1 / TC4 channel 1 / CAN TX |
| Pin 45 | PB14 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 2 / TC5 channel 0 |
| Pin 46 | PB15 — GPIO / SERCOM4 pad 3 / TC5 channel 1 |
| Pin 47 | PA27 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 3 / TC7 channel 1 |
| Pin 48 | RESET_N — Active-low reset input |
| Pin 49 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 50 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 51 | PA30 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 2 / TCC2 channel 0 |
| Pin 52 | PA31 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 3 / TCC2 channel 1 |
| Pin 53 | PB16 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 0 / TC6 channel 0 |
| Pin 54 | PB17 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 1 / TC6 channel 1 |
| Pin 55 | PB18 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 2 / TC7 channel 0 |
| Pin 56 | PB19 — GPIO / SERCOM5 pad 3 / TC7 channel 1 |
| Pin 57 | PB20 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 0 / TCC1 channel 0 |
| Pin 58 | PB21 — GPIO / SERCOM3 pad 1 / TCC1 channel 1 |
| Pin 59 | PB22 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 2 / TC4 channel 0 |
| Pin 60 | PB23 — GPIO / SERCOM1 pad 3 / TC4 channel 1 |
| Pin 61 | PB24 — GPIO / SERCOM0 pad 2 / TC5 channel 0 |
| Pin 62 | PB25 — GPIO / SERCOM0 pad 3 / TC5 channel 1 |
| Pin 63 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 64 | VSS — Ground |
Typical Applications
ATSAME51J20A-AUT is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Automation Controller, USB HID Peripheral Device, Building Automation Gateway, Automotive Body ECU (Non-Safety), IoT Edge Sensor Node, Motor Control Front-End, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Industrial Automation Controller
The ATSAME51J20A-AUT fits industrial PLC and sensor hub controllers because its 120 MHz Cortex-M4F core with hardware FPU executes PID control loops and EtherCAT/CAN-FD slave stacks with deterministic timing. The 1 MB Dual Panel Flash supports live firmware updates without halting the line, while 256 KB SRAM buffers sensor data before forwarding to the host PLC. Its -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating and 64-pin TQFP footprint handle factory floor EMI and thermal stress. Pair with an IFX1051LE CAN transceiver and TLE42754 LDO for a complete industrial node.
Recommended
USB HID Peripheral Device
The ATSAME51J20A-AUT is well suited to USB Human Interface Devices such as keyboards, custom HID controllers, and instrumentation front-ends thanks to its integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed PHY that eliminates the need for an external transceiver. The 1 MB Dual Panel Flash stores USB descriptor stacks, HID report logic, and user firmware with room for bootloader, while 256 KB SRAM supports USB endpoint buffering. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4F provides low-latency response for HID polling intervals. Pair with a USB Type-C connector and ESD protection array.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateway
For building automation gateways consolidating KNX, BACnet, Modbus, and CAN sensors, the ATSAME51J20A-AUT offers the 1 MB Flash needed to hold multi-protocol stacks plus 256 KB SRAM for concurrent protocol buffers. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4F with DSP extensions accelerates cryptographic operations for secure building network access. The CAN-FD peripheral interfaces to building HVAC and elevator controllers, while SERCOM ports drive UART/SPI/I2C sensors. The -40C to +85C rating supports mechanical rooms and rooftop enclosures.
Recommended
Automotive Body ECU (Non-Safety)
The ATSAME51J20A-AUT suits non-safety automotive body applications such as HVAC control panels, seat controllers, and lighting modules. CAN-FD connects to the vehicle body network, while the 120 MHz core runs complex UI animations and sensor fusion. The industrial temperature grade handles cabin temperatures, and the 1 MB Flash stores OEM diagnostics and bootloader. For ASIL-rated safety functions, choose ATSAME51J20A-AZT or ATSAMV71 instead. Pair with a TLE9255W CAN-FD transceiver for automotive bus isolation.
Recommended
IoT Edge Sensor Node
The ATSAME51J20A-AUT powers IoT edge sensor nodes that aggregate multiple sensor inputs, perform local analytics, and forward data to the cloud via Wi-Fi or LoRa. The Cortex-M4F DSP instructions accelerate on-device filtering and FFT-based feature extraction, reducing cloud bandwidth. The 256 KB SRAM accommodates sensor buffers, while 1 MB Flash holds edge AI models and OTA update slots. Low-power sleep modes and the integrated AES crypto accelerator support secure cloud connections. Pair with the ATWINC1510 Wi-Fi module.
Recommended
Motor Control Front-End
The ATSAME51J20A-AUT is well matched to BLDC and stepper motor control front-ends requiring precise PWM generation and field-oriented control computation. The Cortex-M4F with hardware FPU executes Park/Clarke transforms and PI loops within microseconds, while the high-speed ADC samples phase currents synchronously to PWM edges. The 1 MB Flash holds sensorless FOC algorithms and parameter tables. CAN-FD reports torque and speed to the host controller. Pair with DRV8323 gate driver and IFX1051LE CAN transceiver for a complete drive stage.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
For portable test instruments such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, and data loggers, the ATSAME51J20A-AUT provides the 120 MHz DSP performance needed for FFT and statistical analysis in real time. The high-resolution ADC with PGA captures sensor signals with low noise, while USB Full-Speed streams results to a host PC. The 1 MB Dual Panel Flash allows field firmware upgrades for new measurement modes without external memory. The industrial temperature rating supports laboratory and field environments. Pair with ADS131M04 precision ADC for high-accuracy data acquisition.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAME51J20A-AUT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAME51J19A-AUT | ATSAME51J18A-AUT | ATSAMD51J20A-AUT | ATSAMD51J19A-AUT-EFP | ATSAMD51P20A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10) | 64-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10) - same |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 1 MB | 512 KB | 1 MB |
| SRAM | 256 KB | 192 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 192 KB | 256 KB |
| CAN-FD | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in 64-pin TQFP SAM E51 family (vs ATSAME51J19A-AUT)
- Integrated CAN-FD peripheral (vs ATSAMD51J20A-AUT)
- Pin-compatible with 100-pin P20A variant (vs ATSAMD51P20A-AUT)
Design Notes
Decouple every VDD pin (5, 15, 49, 63) with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the pin, and add a single 4.7 uF bulk capacitor near the package. The SAM E51 integrates a 1.2V core LDO that requires at least 1 uF on the VCORE pin to maintain regulation under dynamic load. Inrush current at cold start can reach 50 mA; ensure the upstream LDO has adequate headroom for this transient. Estimated: 120 MHz active current per datasheet is approximately 16 mA/MHz, so a fully active MCU draws roughly 35 mA from VDD plus peripheral current.
Route the USB DP/DM pair (PA24/PA25) as a 90 ohm differential pair with length matching within 2 mm. Place the 48 MHz crystal and its load capacitors within 4 mm of the XIN/XOUT pins, and guard the crystal traces with a ground pour to suppress EMI coupling into the PLL. Maintain continuous ground planes under the TQFP-64 package to provide thermal dissipation and reference return paths for high-speed signals. Estimated: theta_JA for 64-pin TQFP 10x10 mm is approximately 60 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board.
Do not configure PA24/PA25 for SERCOM when USB is active - the USB PHY owns these pins and SERCOM remapping will silently break USB enumeration. When migrating from SAM D51 to SAM E51, note that the CAN-FD peripheral in the E51 uses different GCLK sources and DMA channels than the E51's CANFD peripheral, requiring firmware re-validation. The Dual Panel Flash requires that the BOOTPROT fuse be set appropriately for secure boot; leaving it at default may allow unintended write access to the bootloader region.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance confirmed on Microchip product page. The -AUT suffix denotes industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade, not AEC-Q100 automotive. For AEC-Q100 qualified SAM E51 variants, choose ATSAME51J20A-AZT instead.
